Improvement in device for closing bottles and pipes



intrd 51ans @anni @Wina DoMrNrcUs L. BOLLERMAN AND RICHARD BOLLERMAN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Leners Patent No. 92,782, camz .my 2o, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT'IN DEVICE F011v CLOSING BOTTLES AND PIPES.

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The Schedule referred to in these Leiters Patent and makingpart of the name.

To all whom it may concern improved device, as constructed to form a bottlestopper, and as applied to the ncck or mouth of a bot-l' tlc; v

Figure 2, a longitudinal exterior view of the same; Figure 3, a partly sectionalview, at right angles to igs. 1 and 2; and

Figure 4, a transverse section, through the line a: a:

' in iig. l.

Similarl letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our improvement has reference to devices for closing bottles and pipes, or other vessels and cond-nits, in which the closing-action is effected by pressure ap- Y, plied to a flexible and elastic tube, in such manner as to compress or indent the same, so,that its interior surfaces are brought in contact.

The invention, by a suitable construction or dispo-v sition of .its parts, Ais applicable either'as a bottlestopper, an intermediate stop to a pipe or conduit, or as a faucet, and may be used as a means for stopping the flow of various fluids, including atmospheric arr.

`It will suiiice here, however, to describe the same as constructed to form a bottle-stopper.,

Said invention consists, in combination with a rubber, or other like flexible and elastic tube, encased by a socket, of certain mechanical devices, having a screw-like character or action, and serving to operate a squeezer or plunger, arranged to play transversely t-o said tube, through a hole in the socket, for the purpose of closing the tube, inthe rnanuer lrereinbefore referred to, said parts being so constructed as to establish a loc'k of the plunger when thc tube is closed by it, and so that when released from such lock, the elasticity of the Vtube serves to throw back the plunger, and to rotate its operating-screw or device gearing therewith, and return the same to the position it occupied prior to being turned, to give the closing-action to the plunger.

Referring to the accompanying thawing- A represents a piece of rubber, or other suitable flexible and elastic tube, which is encased by a metallic or other hard socket, B, and, thus encased, applied at its one end to the mouth or neck of' a bottle, C

Branching at right angles from this socket B, intermediately of its length, and in open communica- `tion with the saure' through its side, is a tubular projection, D around the exterior of which inclined grooves or female-screw threads a a are cut, each terminating at its forward end in straight formations b.

E is an outside cap, arranged to freely Ifit the tube D, and carrying projections or screws c c, which gear with the female threads a a, and thus give to the cap the character of a inut.v

ArrangedV to freely fitethe interior ofthe tube D, is a plunger or squeezer, F, suitably rounded on its forward end, and which may be loosely connected with the cap E, and be guided in a straight course within the tube D, by a central freely-fitting stem or rod, d, and disks e e, which latter, as well -as the squeezer F, may be slotted to fit a feather, j, in the tube.

A washer, g, may be arranged between the rear disk and back or closed end of thecap, to provide for the adjnstment'of the forward end of the plunger relatively to the rubber tube A.

From this description it will be seen,-that on suitably turning the cap E, it is made, by its gear with the inclined grooves a a, to give a forward or advance movement to the plunger F, which forces inward the side of the rubber tube, against which it bears, so as to close said tube, as represented by red lines in iig. 1, and' to keep it closed or locked, by reason of the pinsV c c of the cap having entered the straight orlocking-formations b, at the forward ends `of the grooves a a.

`When it is required to open the device, it is only necessary to slightly turn, in a contrary or back direction, the cap E, so as to release the pins c c from the locking-formations b, when the elasticity of the rubber tube, and quick character of the grooves a a, will cause the plunger, and cap which operates it, to be, thrown o'r worked back, or the same may be-assisted `by hand, if desired. d Y By guiding the'plunger in a' straight course, as described, so that while working with the cap, as regards the longitudinal travel of the latter, it is restrained from turning with it, the wearV ofthe plunger upon the rubber is reduced.

lt will be obvious that instead of the plunger or squeezer being operated by a cap, in gear with female threads o n a fixed projection from the socket, which contains the rubber-tube, au equivalent arrangement or combinationof devices may be used, in which the inclined. grooves or screw-threads may be upon the longitudiually-travelling portion of the stopper, and

Athe pinsor portions fitting said threads be connected with the, fixed part of the device. What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination ot' the side tube D, cap E, and sliding plunger F, with the fixed socket B and its flexible lining A, all constructed and arranged as shown and described.

D. L. BOLLERMAN. Witnesses: JR. BOLLERMAN.

` FRED. HAYNES,

. HARRY PALMER. 

